R. Feigenbaum spoke once on the phone conference. At the heart of the discussion was basically the question:
How can I, with all of my aveiros, ever expect to get close to Hashem? Who am I fooling? I've stood before the King before and pledged my desire to leave behind my sins and do Teshuvah. And I know what I did, hours, days or weeks later. Why should I even try anymore?
In chapter 33 verse 10, Yechezkel conveys the Word of Hashem, as He says, "Now you, Son of Man, say to the House of Israel, 'Thus, have you spoken, saying, "Since our sins and our iniquities are upon us and we are wasting away because of them, how can we live?"
In the next Pasuk, verse 11, Hashem instructs Yechezkel to tell us, "As I live, I swear that I do not desire the death of the wicked one, bur rather the wicked ones' return from his way, that he may live. Repent, repent from your evil ways! Why should you die, O House of Israel?"
It's important to appreciate what Hashem is telling us - even at a time of perhaps our lowest point in our relationship with Him - when our Temple is being destroyed and when we are being expelled from our Land: that HE WANTS US BACK!
WE HAVE TO STOP & APPRECIATE THE POWER OF HASHEM'S LOVE FOR US. EVEN WHEN WE SIN, EVEN WHEN HE IS PUNISHING US, WHAT DOES HE WANT MOST? THAT WE RETURN TO HIM!
And this time, my Dear and Holy Brothers, it IS going to be different. For, as R. Feigenbaum pointed out, thanks to our participation through GYE, we are all demonstrating our desire to attach ourselves to Hashem. And it's going to be different this year, because we are realizing that our d'vaikus is not a one way street anymore. Hashem is just waiting for us to yell out:
"AVINU - Our Father, our Tatty - I can't do this anymore by myself. I believe that only YOU can restore me to Sanity. And I've decided to turn my will and my life over to Your Care. I am ready, yes finally ready, to have You remove all my shortcomings." (Steps 2, 3 and 6).